Over the past three months, Ukraine has seen a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases. In August 2024, the country recorded more than 25,000 new cases, which is almost 13 times more than in June, when there were only 2,300 cases. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Maria Karchevych during a telethon.
Karcevic stressed that the data indicate a significant increase in the incidence caused by the new subvariant of the coronavirus Omicron – Flirt. This strain has proven to be more contagious and has the ability to partially evade the immune response. However, vaccines continue to be effective against this variant of the virus.
In the context of increasing morbidity, the Ministry of Health provides certain recommendations regarding treatment and sick leave. According to Karchevych, the legislation introduced during the pandemic allows for obtaining sick leave remotely. This reduces the number of physical contacts and makes it possible to consult a doctor and obtain a certificate of incapacity for work without the need to visit a medical facility. However, if the symptoms of the disease last more than 5 days, it is recommended to physically consult a doctor to receive proper treatment.
Despite the significant increase in the number of diseases, the Ministry of Health does not plan to introduce new restrictions. According to ministry representatives, the total number of patients remains relatively small, which allows avoiding the introduction of strict restrictive measures.
It is important to note that the new Omicron subvariant – Flirt, while showing increased transmission, has not led to a significant increase in severe cases of the disease. This suggests that existing vaccines continue to be effective in protecting against severe consequences of the coronavirus.
